Matthew 9:32-38 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
As we end chapter 9, we see Jesus distressed because the people of Israel were as sheep with no shepherd. The evil one had led them into unhealthy, poisonous pastures, with vain, corrupt spiritual leaders. The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. (Matthew 23:1-5) Jude describes these leaders who crept into the early church and might have been part of the old priesthood as blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. (Jude 1:12) The devil’s work remains the same, leading people into confusion, causing them to follow false shepherds who exploit the sheep for their aggrandizement. The priests of that day enjoyed the adulations of the people—their place of privilege and deference, but they were not willing servants to the people, helping them to find and know God. They served themselves, seeking what they could obtain in this world. Their minds were earthly bound rather than heavenly oriented, so Jesus asked his disciples to pray for true guides who would lead people to God. Even today, some well-known Christian leaders are more like a worldly teacher or philosopher than they are like Christ. These imposters preach servanthood and dedication to Jesus Christ, but instead of serving people as Christ did, they partake of the best of this world, living expansively with riches and possessions from the tithes and gifts given to their ministries. Their true message of self-will is easily discerned, do what I say not as I live. John wrote, Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17) Jesus recognized the Pharisees and teachers of the law who lived for themselves, for their own benefit in life and not as shepherds who were willing to give their lives and livelihood for the sheep. In today’s passage we see Jesus as He walked through Israel, going through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. He not only went to the large cities, He went to the smallest villages too with a few people, preaching the good news, healing the sick, and releasing the captives from the evil one. He was willing to go anywhere to preach the gospel. Now, our prominent leaders stop only at the largest population centers where many will gather to give them the offerings they often are seeking. Going to the largest communities is not wrong, but the intent of the heart can be self-serving. We should ask, Who will go as Jesus did to the remote places where hungry people wait? Jesus was the true shepherd, willing to go out for the one on a lonely hill, forlorn and lost. He was willing to leave the comforts of the many to seek the one lost sheep away from the safety of the fold. In past years, evangelists traveled from one small community to another to save a few, willing not to be supported well or at all for the sake of Christ. Some of these workers are still among us but perhaps too few. Jesus said, The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
The Good News must be carried forth and taught. The kingdom of God has come to us in the form of Jesus Christ and his body. He ushered in the kingdom at his death: the price was paid for citizenship in the heavenly realm. All who enter into this Good News of the kingdom by faith will be saved from eternal damnation. This news was the focus of Jesus’ ministry and announced strongly by the miracles and healings He performed. In chapter 9 we see the miraculous ministry of Jesus on open display, awing the people who observed Jesus. Matthew, who records his own conversion to follow Christ in this chapter, relates some of the miracles Jesus performed at this time. He tells about the paralyzed man on the mat who was brought to Jesus lying down, but went away walking, rejoicing in the miracle he received. For the people who watched this miracle it was an amazing event for them. Even fear swept over them, for the healing was beyond their understanding, but they chose to praise God for sending Jesus in their midst. Matthew records the healing of the woman with the issue of blood. He then tells of the raising of the dead daughter of the synagogue leader, amazing the crowd so much that, “This miracle swept through the entire countryside.” He chronicles the healing of the two bold blind men who entered a house not theirs to be healed. They rejoiced to such a point that they did not heed Jesus’ command not to tell anyone about their healing. Instead, “They went out and spread his fame all over the region.” In our study passage, we see a demon possessed man delivered from the authority of demons. He came to Jesus without words in his mouth; he left Jesus with a voice to praise God for his mercy and grace towards him. His deliverance impacted the people who were watching this miracle. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” By performing miraculous deeds, Jesus separated himself from all other men who were ever born. He was not only different in his teachings, he was powerful also, performing miracles, healing, and raising the dead such as no man could ever do. Jesus confirmed himself as the Messiah, the Great Deliverer from man’s waywardness from God and his authority. He was the great Light in a kingdom of darkness and confusion. Other lights would be needed to pass on the Good News after Jesus disappears from the scene of this earthly life. Other shepherds of light would be needed to announce the kingdom of God to all people, in every community, large or small. Jesus made a way for the Light to go forward.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (Matthew 5:14-15) We might not see evangelists coming through our communities, spreading the Good News as Jesus did in every community and city. We might not hear the pure message of Jesus Christ and his redemptive power on television or radio, but we do know through the word of God that Jesus Christ ministered truth and freedom to all who would believe in his words. God has made each of us a messenger of the Good News. He want us to live our lives as messengers, not as the priests did: saying truth, but not living it. Let all people inspect your life and find it pure in serving God, generous in deeds and words. Jesus told his disciples, Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. You are the harvest workers! You are the ones that God is counting on to spread the good news about the Kingdom of God coming to earth. Jesus is the Good News. But for Good News to be accepted, it must be seen in people’s lives. If not seen, it is but just another ideology, religion, or philosophy. But if the Good News is evident in a person’s life, it will separate him or her from the ways of the world. Jesus said, we are not to be like the world, seeking power and authority, projecting fleshly desires. No, we are to be humble, meek, lowly, laden with mercy and grace. The power seekers, my way or the highway people, are displaying the devil’s desire to be Lord. “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” … You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. (Genesis 3:1,4) Lordship is always in flux between man and God. Who will be Lord? is the question man has to decide in his life. If the flesh is to be Lord, the spirit of hurt and criticism will manifest itself, blaming others for the sin and hurt in the world. If the Spirit is in control, the spirit of love, mercy and grace will come to the foreground in a person’s life. The illumination of God will blink on. We are the light of the world. A light is not hidden, put under a bowl. Instead a light is put on a lamp stand. This reflection of God is to be seen by the world. Christ is THE LIGHT; we are but lights that shine his light. This breakfast every Monday is but a light to reflect THE LIGHT. We are privileged to spread light to the world. But all of our breakfast companions are lights who spread Christ to the world. Every community big or small can have the light blinking on in its presence. As the angel proclaimed, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for ALL THE PEOPLE. (Luke 10:2) Big or small communities, all people need the good news, for Christ raised the dead, healed the blind, cast out demons from the possessed. He alone changes lives completely from being dead into being alive forevermore. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
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